Schools approve officer contract

Board OKs school resource officer deal

Jun. 18, 2013

Written by

Staff Writer

FREMONT — Fremont City Schools will have a school resource officer assigned to Fremont Ross High School and Fremont Middle School in the 2013-14 school year, after the school approved a one-year school resource officer contract with the city and Fremont Police Department Monday night.

Superintendent Traci McCaudy said that this was the first time the district had entered into an officer agreement with the city and police department. She said the agreement is expected to cost the district approximately $60,000, with that being covered by state casino funds. The city will pay the resource officer’s salary, with the district reimbursing those costs.

McCaudy said the school district had used Fremont police officers for in-service workshops on drug, alcohol, tobacco and bullying issues.

“So this will continue to be a real good resource for staff members at both of our buildings,” McCaudy said.

Included in the officer’s duties will be the gathering of information regarding student criminal activity and working with school officials to identify and assist students with pre-delinquency behavior.

McCaudy said the new officer will work with students in classes on Internet safety programs, substance abuse and awareness issues and the sixth grade D.A.R.E. program.

The district is looking for a current FPD patrol officer with a minimum of five years experience. The superintendent said the position will be posted soon, with a meeting scheduled this summer between all parties to review the contract.

Board member Juanita Sanchez asked Fremont police Chief Tim Wiersma if there were interested candidates within the police force.

“We’ve had three that said they were interested, but there might be more,” Wiersma said.

Wiersma said that the department would replace the officer selected to be a resource officer.

McCaudy said discussions about the need for a district resource officer began last year, when Fremont City Schools had discussed locker and vehicle searches with the police department and the Sandusky County Sheriff’s Office.

The district looked at other districts with resource officers, how they paid for those officers, job descriptions and how successful they were in aiding schools.

She said the district would add an officer even if it did not receive state casino funds.

The new officer will work a teacher calendar (185 days) for the 2013-14 school year.